“Three Revelations About God”
The most important game of my baseball career had the most stressful day. A late inning win by the Kansas City Royals the night before sent us to the final game of the ’85 World Series. We took the kids out to a park in order to escape a large group gathered at the house to reduce the internal pressure of the coming night’s finale. Someone was going to be a Champion by the end of the day.
Getting to a city park was nice. Being outside with the family was relaxing and cut a little tension. Somewhere in the middle of our respite, a thought suddenly came to mind, the game was going to be a blowout, and so I leaned over to communicate the revelation to Janet. Her reaction was, “Who’s the winner?” I responded with, “I don’t know but it’s going to be one-sided!” There was no comfort in being left with that unknown.
God had been on the front end of teaching me to recognize His voice and preliminary ways of communicating. One thing I’ve learned over the years, He doesn’t give you all the information but just enough to keep you engaging. He loves to connect with His children and often does so with questions to keep one returning. When I ask Him the favored team, He was silent. It was probably the wrong way to ask the question.
Here are three revelations God showed me on the day of the seventh game of the ’85 World Series.
Knowing is the Highest Acknowledgement of Faith
There is nothing like knowing something good in advance of its happening. Brett Saberhagen, the young twenty game winner, was awesome the first inning and I KNEW if we scored one run we would win the game. He was so focused and sharp with his pitches. I told those around me in the dugout, to encourage some runs. We scored in the first inning and it was then I KNEW the message in the park. This would be our game! Hope produces knowing and those gems increase our faith. I KNOW THAT I KNOW!
A Life Lived with Freedom and Favor
By the time the 5th inning arrived, we had an eleven run lead and the blowout was in play. The last four innings of the 7th game were life changing. No one was going to take this game from the Kansas City Royals. There was so much freedom and joy participating in those remaining frames because we knew the victory was ours. It’s as if God said, “I want you to live a life of freedom and favor in advance of eternity with me.” Knowing you are God’s child establishes an attitude of favor facilitating emotional freedom!
The Applause of Heaven
In the movie “Chariots of Fire”, Eric Liddell, a Scottish Olympian runner, his sister poses an alternative, “Stop competing and come with me to the mission field!” Eric’s response, “Jennie, when I run, I feel God’s pleasure!” This has been my reflection wherever God has placed me and particularly in the ’85 Series deciding game. Feeling the applause of heaven is unlike anything else. Sensing the Father’s pleasure is one piece of His amazing revelation.
SPORTS TO LIFE NAVIGATOR
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the father except through me.” Josh McDowell said in his book, Evidence that Demands a Verdict, Jesus is either a liar or lunatic or He is who He said He was.” Your beliefs will make a difference today and the way eternity plays out tomorrow. Who do you say Jesus is?